The Texel House of Antiquities
In the Texel House of Antiquities, visitors can step in to get a glimpse of life as it once was for the people of Texel. In this historic home, time seems to have stood still. Everyday objects and personal stories bring different aspects of village life on Texel to life, dating from the early modern period to the Second World War. The personal histories of the islanders are preserved and passed on here, because memories and the way we engage with the past reveal much about ourselves and how we view bygone times.
Temporary exhibitions
In addition to the fixed layout of the rooms in the house, the upper floor of the Texel House of Antiquities is used for temporary exhibitions. In these exhibitions, constant new aspects of Texel’s past are highlighted. The current temporary exhibition is dedicated to playing and toys.
Mission
The Texel House of Antiquities has the goal to preserve the personal history of Texel inhabitants for future generations and to make it come to life inside the house and in the exhibitions.
Collection
Not only does the museum focus on exhibiting and showcasing its collection, but preserving it is also a key responsibility. After all, the collection encompasses much more than what‘s on display in the museum. Conservation and management are core tasks of any museum. And this doesn’t just apply to the physical collection, the Texel House of Antiquities has also made it its mission to preserve stories of the past for the future. To safeguard this so-called immaterial heritage, the oral history project was set up. Older inhabitants of Texel share stories of the past, based on their own experiences, or passed down through generations. These stories are recorded on film.
Volunteers
The hosts of the Texel House of Antiquities are all volunteers. The maintenance of the herb garden and part of the collection is also done by volunteers. The conservator of Kaap Skil Museum, together with the collection staff of the Texel Museum Foundation, is responsible for the acquisition policy, the maintenance and management, and the accessibility of the collection.
Texel Museum Foundation
Together with Kaap Skil Museum, Lighthouse Texel, and Ecomare, the Texel House of Antiquities is part of the Texel Museum Foundation. On the website of the foundation, annual reports and policy plans can be downloaded. The foundation has the ANBI status and the CBF seal of approval, two guarantees for a careful allocation of received contributions.
